Pirates Black & Gold game set for Friday at noon at McKechnie

The Pirates ended the practice portion of spring training Thursday after their last day of full-squad workouts at Pirate City.
Now it's time for the competition. The games begin Friday, with the team's Black & Gold exhibition, set for McKechnie Field at noon. The organization's top two pitching prospects, right-handers Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon, will oppose each other.

Brandon Inge will make his Pirates debut as a designated hitter.

McKechnie Field in Bradenton has a whole new look while keeping it's 90-year-old historic charm. (Staff photo / Thomas Bender)

The regulars like Andrew McCutchen, Neil Walker, Pedro Alvarez and any pitcher who would be a starter, will not take part in the exhibition.
The non-roster invitees and minor leaguers with outside shots at the 25-man roster will get first crack to showcase their talents to manager Clint Hurdle and the coaching staff.
"You do it for a number of reasons, No.1, make sure the message that was given them over the winter matches up with the opportunity in spring training," Hurdle said. "You want to give them the freedom to play. You spend this (early) time getting them in what you feel is a good place to be competitive."
The battle for roster spots gets more serious beginning Saturday in the Pirates' Grapefruit League opener against the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte, for the first base and right field positions.

Those are the only two jobs that are open in the Pirates' regular lineup.

Garrett Jones and Gaby Sanchez, along with Clint Robinson, will begin their battle to convince Hurdle that they deserve to be the full-time first baseman.Travis Snider and Jose Tabata are competing for the right field job.
"That's what you have spring training for," Hurdle said. "To get men out there and give them opportunities to play. The games present the opportunity for live pitching, for reps in the outfield, for running the bases. We'll see how the skill sets play out, but we like the individuals we've got involved in those particular spots.
"We've got guys that also have the flexibility and versatility to move, if need be."

Hurdle was referring to Jones, who has also played right field.

"We understand what Garrett is capable of doing, we understand what Sanchez is capable of doing," Hurdle said. "We understand that (from) Clint Robinson. The same thing in the outfield. It's all about consistency of play, who can ratchet their game and show us the things we need to see, to put one guy there, or two guys there, to hold that position down."
Hurdle danced around the issue of whether he will determine if it's best to let one player handle each position, rather than platoon.
"It all depends on how everything else plays out," Hurdle said. "If you break down the clubs that play in the post-season, there's a lot of similarities in the teams that play late. Sometimes there's hybrid teams. You're always going to look for four or five guys to post up and play the maximum amount of games, I think. That's what you're looking for in your core group. If you're better served platooning, not in just a certain platoon, but with two men picking up different types of pitching, different types of matchups, then you go that way."
Hurdle announced that left-hander Jeff Locke will start Saturday against the Rays and right-hander James McDonald will start Sunday's home opener against the Atlanta Braves at newly renovated McKechnie Field.

Tom Balog

Tom Balog is a reporter for HT Golf. Contact him via email, or at (941) 315-0764.

Last modified: February 22, 2013
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